Cheshire May Ask Adams-Cheshire for Agreement Review
CHESHIRE, Mass. — The Selectmen may ask for a review of its agreement with the Adams-Cheshire Regional School District to see if changes should be made.
Resident Jason Mendonca told the Selectmen on Tuesday that he feared that because the School Committee has four Adams members and three Cheshire members, it was more likely that any vote would benefit Adams.
"We are paying a higher percentage because we are the richer community, and … there is true concern here about them wanting to restructure," Mendonca said. "We are outnumbered from an educational board perspective and if we are going to pay more of our fair share based on students who attend the district, should we be looking into changing it?"
The approved fiscal 2017 district budget, which reflects a decrease from this year's budget, was designed to act as a stop-gap budget until the School Committee could make drastic changes to the district to condense expenses.
It has strongly hinted that closing one of the two elementary schools is inevitable.
Mendonca said he was concerned that Adams' representation could strong-arm Cheshire when and if the committee decides to vote on closing a school.
"In my opinion, I think we need to do this so when we go to restructure, our people have a voice on that committee," he said.
Town Administrator Mark Webber did not know if the agreement had ever been revised, but said big changes would have to be agreed upon by both towns.
He said many school districts go through this procedure periodically and if Adams-Cheshire hasn't, it would be beneficial to.
"There is a lot procedural stuff that should be done," he said. "Periodically, they should be looked at and updated.”
Mendonca suggested that the town ask for a copy of the agreement and see if changes should be made to give Cheshire more representation.
The Selectmen did not know if they had a copy of the agreement in the vault, but said they would ask for one.
"We will ask for one if we can't find one," Chairwoman Carol Francesconi said. "It is on our radar.”
Webber said he was contacted by the state about the town's approved Community Compact application. The town has asked for state assistance on its master plan.
Webber said he asked the state to provide $15,000. The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission would provide a relative $5,000 and the town would have to appropriate $10,000.
"They indicated that the $15,000 request seemed reasonable and they would run it up the flag pole and let me know shortly," Webber said. "When we get word back, we can finalize numbers, but that seems to be in the range.”
The Selectmen also heard from the Baptist Heritage Revival Society that wants to erect a monument of Cheshire historical figure John Leland.
The board was OK with the monument, but concerned it would not fit in Leland Park, which already has a memorial tree, an Appalachian Trail kiosk, and the Cheshire Cheese Press.
Francesconi said she would go over this with the group.
"I hope they realize how much space is there," she said "I will make sure they know they have to work through the logistics.”
The board agreed that under no circumstances would the Cheese Press be moved or destroyed. The monument commemorates the mammoth cheese made for the inauguration of Leland's friend President Thomas Jefferson.
Tags: ACRSD, historical figure, master plan, monument,
